A senior minister advised drivers to fill up their tanks – and their jerry cans too – today as military drivers began training to replace commercial tanker crews in the event of an Easter fuel strike.

With No 10 accused of fuelling panic-buying across the country, David Cameron tried to reassure motorists that there was no need to queue for petrol.

But the Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, eager to blame the row on the union Unite, contradicted him and said that drivers might want to have some petrol in reserve in case of a prolonged stoppage.

“The greater extent to which people have fuel in their vehicles – maybe a little bit in the garage as well in a jerry can – the longer we can…